A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Toronto, Tyndale University, and the University of Texas at Arlington has found a significant link between parental divorce during childhood and an increased risk of stroke in older adults. The research shows that adults aged 65 and older whose parents divorced during their childhood have a 61% higher risk of having a stroke.
The study, published in PLOS One, analyzed data from 13,205 older Americans, of whom 13.9% had experienced parental divorce. Among those who had seen their parents’ divorce during childhood, one in nine reported a stroke diagnosis. This is compared to one in 15 among those whose parents stayed together.
CONTROLLING FOR KNOWN RISK FACTORS
Even after adjusting for well-established stroke risk factors, the researchers found noteworthy results. These factors include smoking, physical inactivity, low income and education, diabetes, depression, and low social support. Despite these adjustments, the risk related with parental divorce remained significant. Mary Kate Schilke, the study’s first author, noted that the findings show an overwhelming association. This association is comparable to other major stroke risk factors like diabetes and depression.
THEORIES BEHIND THE LINK
The exact causes behind the association between parental divorce and stroke are still unclear. The researchers speculate that both biological and social factors may be involved.
Biological Embedding of Stress
Esme Fuller-Thomson, senior author of the study, explained that parental divorce during childhood could lead to prolonged exposure to stress hormones. This exposure may negatively impact a child’s developing brain. It may also affect their ability to cope with stress later in life. Over time, this could contribute to chronic health problems, including stroke.
Social Factors and Support Systems
The study also highlighted that having at least one adult who made the child feel safe was beneficial. This presence helped mitigate the risk of stroke, even in cases of parental divorce. The researchers excluded participants who had experienced childhood abuse. This exclusion ensured that the findings were specific to parental separation rather than other forms of trauma.
CHILDHOOD ADVERSITY AND STROKE RISK
The study found that other forms of childhood adversity were not significantly associated with stroke risk in this sample. These adversities include emotional abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence. This suggests that parental divorce, in particular, may have a distinct and long-lasting effect on health outcomes in later life.
IMPLICATIONS FOR STROKE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
The study opens up the possibility that health professionals could use a patient’s family background. They could consider whether their parents divorced during childhood. This information could be part of targeted outreach for stroke prevention and education. As Schilke suggests, future research exploring the connection between parental divorce and stroke could lead to more personalized health strategies to reduce the burden of strokes, particularly among older adults.
